Reading aid apparatus



May 19, 1970 F.D.II:=HIL LIPIS 3,512,744

READING AID APYPARATUS Filed Dec 21, 1967 Y I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

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READING AID APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,512,744 READING All) APPARATUS Fred D. Phillips, 204 S. Davis Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43223 Filed Dec. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 692,365 Int. Cl. A47]: 23/00 US. Cl. 248-448 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Reading aid apparatus for the purpose of supporting various sized books, holding pages open to facilitate comfort and ease in reading for long periods of time or achieving copy work for scholastic endeavors. The book is placed on parallel supports or rests and the top is adjustable for various sizes by an adjustment clamp. It is opened and closed to suit by hinged movements with the lever type clamps having a two-state position with an over-center type action of rubberbands and clamp means.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a book on an inclined surface and in which there is a top section that is adjustable for various sized books. More particularly, the invention relates to a clamp lever that includes a rubberband supported from an articulated clamp lever bracket that swings into an open and closed position with these states of stability for holding the pages down when in the closed position and for allowing the book to have the pages turned when in the open position. The lever pivots from the clamp support that is constructed of flexible metal.

An object therefore of the invention is to provide ease and comfort in reading for long periods of time without imposing damaging conditions upon the books or papers that are used on the supported reading aid.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 relates to a general plan view of the reading aid according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the various components of the flexible clamp support and the clamping arm in the open and closed positions; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a book rest having a bottom 12 and a top 14, the bottom being provided with a flanged or angle member 16 for supporting a book 18 shown in dotted line.

A leg stand 20 is shown supported by rivets to suspend or support the rest stand in an inclined position as shown in FIG. 2.

There is shown an adjusting plate 24 which is held in place and readjusted as desired by the wing nut and bolt for holding it in place, and which is released for making the necessary adjustments. The wing nut is shown as element 26. Secured to the adjustment plate 24 is a flexible and resilient clamp support 28 having at its free end a clamping arm 30 for imposing a stabilizing or fixed position in the contact with the book 18, and which is held in place onto the clamp support 28 by a rivet 32. From the upper arm of the support clamp 28 is an articulated clamp lever 36 supported by a hinge 38 having a hinge pin 39.

From each side or lateral portions of the clamp lever 36, there are extensions 40 which are in alignment with extensions 42, 42 on the adjusting plate, the extensions having disposed thereon a pair of rubberbands 46, 46 as shown. The rubberbands 46, 46 hold the extensions and the clamp lever in either of the two states of stability, that is, either the closed or the open position of the clamp lever 28, the closed position being shown in dotted line in FIG. 2.

When the clamp lever 36 is brought down forward to the dotted line position 36 shown in FIG. 2 by swinging around the hinge pin 39, the clamp lever arm 44 is raised upwardly. The rubberbands 46, 46 are brought through an extended state as the clamp lever arm 44 is moved through the are 41. Thus the rubberbands 46, 46 start from a short-length position to pass through an extended state and return to a short-length position, which is described as an overcenter type of action of the rubberbands cooperating with the clamp lever 36.

The clamp lever arm 44 is in the raised position when the clamping arm is in the down or closed position, but when clamping arm 30 is in the open position, lever arm 44 is in parallel relation with the clamp support 28.

What is claimed is:

1. A reading aid comprising an inclined book support having a flanged rest at the lower end thereof, a leg stand supporting the upper end of the book support, a resilient clamp support having a free end and being supported by an adjustment plate connected to said book support by a wing nut and bolt arrangement, an articulated clamp lever pivotally mounted on said clamp support, rod extensions on said adjustment plate and on said clamp support, said clamp support having a free end, a rubberband to hold the resilient clamp support in an open position and a closed position by said articulated clamp lever, and a clamp arm positioned at the free end of the clamp support to be used to hold the book at a marked position.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the leg stand is pivoted to the book support.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the rubberband is held fixedly in place to the clamp support, and fixedly held to the free end of the articulated clamp lever.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 132,030 10/1872 Stebbins 24-66 262,248 8/ 1882 Salisbury 248-452 2,273,584 2/1942 Moore 24-66 3,140,558 7/1964 Cassidy 248-448 X ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 248-452 

